Adams: Nothing scary about picking Vols

So what are you wearing to Halloween night at Neyland Stadium?

I'll be disguised as an over-the-hill sportswriter with a receding hairline and a bad knee. Whether I use one or two crutches will be a game-day decision.

But I'm more interested in what the celebrities will be wearing. I'm even offering suggestions.

Jonathan Crompton - He won't need a new costume. He can wear the same thing he wore the last two Saturdays.

And play like the same Tennessee quarterback.

Steve Spurrier - An orange baseball cap, white shirt, and orange sweater vest with a pillow inside.

It would be a nice tribute to the Florida-Tennessee rivalry of the 1990s when both teams were contending for championships, and Spurrier and UT's Phillip Fulmer were two of the most successful coaches in the country.

Lane Kiffin - The obvious choice would be an official's uniform, but that might cost him a third reprimand from the SEC office.

On second thought, how about a long-haired black wig, and a crimson jersey with No. 62 on it and a 150-pound pillow inside? But he can't wear a helmet.

Tennessee 27, South Carolina 20: After UT's drubbing of Georgia and close loss to unbeaten Alabama, Neyland Stadium should be scary loud on Halloween. The Vols will need any edge they can get against the Gamecocks.

In their last four meetings at Neyland Stadium, UT has won three. But all of the games were decided by seven points or fewer.

Florida 24, Georgia 10: The Bulldogs upset the Gators two years ago in a game best remembered for Georgia's early touchdown celebration, which drew a penalty and the wrath of Florida coach Urban Meyer.

Don't be surprised if the Bulldogs try something similar this afternoon. But they shouldn't wait for a touchdown.

Coach Mark Richt should have the entire team rush onto the field to celebrate the team's first first down, probably sometime in the middle of the second quarter.

Ole Miss 27, Auburn 20: The deeper the Tigers go into the 2009 season, the more they remind you of 2008 when they lost six of their last seven games and finished 5-7. You could say the same for quarterback Chris Todd, who has critics wondering if his shoulder problems have reoccurred.

Unfortunately for Auburn, there's nothing wrong with Jevan Snead's throwing arm. After a dreadful start, the Ole Miss quarterback has completed 37 of 55 passes for 572 yards and five touchdowns the last two weeks.

Mississippi State 24, Kentucky 20: Wildcat quarterbacks - all three of them - should be on the lookout for freshman defensive back Johnthan Banks, quarterback Tim Tebow's new go-to receiver.

Following Banks' two interceptions for touchdowns last week, only Aaron Hernandez and Riley Cooper have caught more touchdown passes (three apiece) from Tebow this season.

Randall Cobb is the only Wildcat with more touchdown catches than Banks.

Georgia Tech 24, Vanderbilt 10: Commodores coach Bobby Johnson should be taking notes on the sideline while the Yellow Jackets' triple-option offense is running merrily up-and-down the field. Paul Johnson's offense proves you can move the ball without throwing it.

Georgia Tech ranks 116th nationally in passing yards per game. Vanderbilt ranks 111th.

One difference: The Commodores have 150 more passing attempts.

Another difference: Georgia Tech is averaging 291.6 yards per game rushing. Vanderbilt is averaging 174.5.

LSU 62, Tulane 0: This almost marks the end of a in-state rivalry as storied as UT vs. Vanderbilt. LSU has agreed to play another game in the Superdome at an undisclosed date (presumably sometime in the next century), and that will be the end of it.

Tulane won the series opener 1893, but LSU bounced back to win 68 of the next 96 games.

Series highlights: Tulane once went 12 consecutive years without scoring more than a touchdown; from 1958 through 1965, LSU won three games by the score of 62-0.

Arkansas 55, Eastern Michigan 10: The Razorbacks don't get enough credit for scheduling attractive non-conference opponents from outside the Southeast and Southwest. And I'm not just talking about Southern California, which outscored the Razorbacks 120-31 in back-to-back games.

Last year, the Razorbacks opened the season against Western Illinois. Other recent non-conference opponents have included Utah State, Missouri State and New Mexico State.

They might be catching Eastern Michigan at the wrong time. After opening the season with six consecutive losses, the Eagles lost by only two points to Ball State last week.

Top 25: Texas 31, Oklahoma State 27; Southern California 31, Oregon 30; Cincinnati 37, Syracuse 17; Boise State 45, San Jose 17; Iowa 30, Indiana 17; TCU 45, UNLV 7; Penn State 27, Northwestern 10; Houston 41, Southern Mississippi 30, Ohio State 52, New Mexico State 7; Miami 30, Wake Forest 20; Utah 27, Wyoming 13, Oklahoma 31, Kansas State 7; Notre Dame 42, Washington State 14.

Record: 136-36 (.791) overall, 84-68 (.553) against the spread.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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